The Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Abstract

It is difficult to find a state today that does not have, in addition to a diplomatic service, a ministry dedicated to directing and administering it. This is usually known as the ministry of foreign affairs (MFA) or, for short, foreign ministry. It is easy to forget that this was not always the case and that the MFA came relatively late onto the scene. In fact, as commonly defined, its appearance in Europe post-dated the arrival of the resident diplomatic mission by between two and three centuries. This chapter will begin by looking briefly at the origins and development of the foreign ministry, and then examine its different roles. These include staffing and supporting missions abroad, policy advice and implementation, policy coordination, dealing with foreign diplomats at home, and building domestic support.

Waiden, George, Lucky George: Memoirs of an anti-politician (Allen Lane/Penguin Press: London, 1999): 172–214, on the role of the principal private secretary to the Foreign Secretary.Google Scholar

Many foreign ministries have their own websites, most of which provide at least a list of the different departments (sometimes even an ‘organigram’), while a few go so far as to give a detailed history of the ministry. In the last regard, the website of the Canadian MFA is outstanding. The back copies of State Magazine, available via the US State Department’s website, are also useful.Google Scholar